Process for creaseproofing cellulosic fiber-containing fabric using formaldehyde vapor and a solid and a solid catalyst

Claim 2

A process according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is a cotton fabric and the catalyst is zinc chloride.

Claim 3

A process according to claim 1 wherein the uncombined formaldehyde polymer is removed from the creaseproofed fabric by washing the fabric.

Claim 4

A process according to claim 1 wherein the uncombined formaldehyde polymer is removed from the creaseproofed fabric by heating the fabric.

Claim 5

A process for creaseproofing cellulosic fiber-containing fabric using formaldehyde vapor and a solid catalyst, which process comprises: a. impregnating a cellulosic fiber-containing fabric to a wet pick-up of between about 50 and 110 percent with a formaldehyde-free aqueous solution consisting essentially of water which has dissolved therein about 0.2 to 5 percent of a water-soluble solid catalyst selected from the group consisting of zinc chloride, ammonium chloride, phosphoric acid and zinc nitrate, and about 1 to 3 percent of a finely divided, soft film forming polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, alkyl acrylate polymers, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymers, polyvinyl alcohols and polyurethanes, b. conditioning the formaldehyde-free, catalyst-containing fabric by adjusting the moisture content thereof to between about 5 to 15 percent based on the weight of dry fabric, c. exposing the conditioned, formaldehyde-free catalyst-containing fabric to formaldehyde vapor at a temperature between about 90*C. and 150*C. until a dry add-on of formaldehyde of between about 0.5 and 5 percent is affixed to the fabric and the cellulose therein is creaseproofed, and d. washing the resultant fabric to remove water-soluble solids therefrom.

Claim 6

A process for creaseproofing cellulosic fiber-containing fabric using formaldehyde vapor and a solid catalyst, which process comprises: a. impregnating a cellulosic fiber-containing fabric to a wet pick-up of between about 50 and 110 percent with a formaldehyde-free aqueous solution consisting essentially of water which has dissolved therein about 0.2 to 5 percent of a water-soluble solid catalyst selected from the group consisting of zinc chloride, ammonium chloride, phosphoric acid and zinc nitrate, and about 1 to 3 percent of a finely divided, soft film forming polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, alkyl acrylate polymers, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymers, polyvinyl alcohols and polyurethanes, b. conditioning the formaldehyde-free, catalyst-containing fabric by adjusting the moisture content thereof to between about 5 to 15 percent based on the weight of dry fabric, c. exposing the conditioned, formaldehyde-free, catalyst-containing fabric to formaldehyde vapor at a temperature between about 90*C. and 150*C. until a dry add-on of formaldehyde of between about 0.5 and 5 percent is affixed to the fabric and the cellulose therein is creaseproofed, and d. removing any uncombined formaldehyde polymer from the creaseproofed fabric.

Claim 7

A process for creaseproofing cellulosic fiber-containing fabric using formaldehyde vapor and a solid catalyst, which process comprises: a. impregnating a cellulosic fiber-containing fabric to a wet pick-up of beTween about 50 and 110 percent with a formaldehyde-free aqueous solution containing about 0.2 to 5 percent of a water-soluble solid catalyst selected from the group consisting of zinc chloride, ammonium chloride, phosphoric acid and zinc nitrate, b. conditioning the formaldehyde-free, catalyst-containing fabric by adjusting the moisture content thereof to between about 5 and 15 percent based on the weight of dry fabric, c. exposing the conditioned, formaldehyde-free, catalyst-containing fabric to formaldehyde vapor at a temperature between about 90*C. and 150*C. until a dry add-on of formaldehyde of between about 0.5 and 5 percent is affixed to the fabric and the cellulose therein is creaseproofed, d. heating the resultant fabric to remove any uncombined formaldehyde polymer therefrom, and wherein prior to step (b) the catalyst-containing fabric is dried and a shaped garment having at least one hot pressed crease formed therein is manufactured from the dried fabric.

Claim 8

A process for creaseproofing cellulosic fiber-containing fabric using formaldehyde vapor and a solid catalyst, which process comprises: a. impregnating a cellulosic fiber-containing fabric to a wet pick-up of between about 50 and 110 percent with a formaldehyde-free aqueous solution containing about 0.2 to 5 percent of a water-soluble solid catalyst selected from the group consisting of zinc chloride, ammonium chloride, phosphoric acid and zinc nitrate, b. conditioning the formaldehyde-free, catalyst-containing fabric by adjusting the moisture content thereof to between about 5 and 15 percent based on the weight of dry fabric, c. exposing the conditioned, formaldehyde-free, catalyst-containing fabric to formaldehyde vapor at a temperature between about 90*C. and 150*C. until a dry add-on of formaldehyde of between about 0.5 and 5 percent is affixed to the fabric and the cellulose therein is creaseproofed, d. removing any uncombined formaldehyde polymer from the creaseproofed fabric, and wherein prior to step (b) the catalyst-containing fabric is dried and a shaped garment having at least one hot pressed crease formed therein is manufactured from the dried fabric.

Claim 9

A process according to claim 9, wherein the fabric is a cotton fabric and is dried to have a moisture content of between about 5 and 12 percent after impregnation with the catalyst solution and before exposure to formaldehyde.

Claim 10

A process according to claim 9, wherein the uncombined formaldehyde polymer is removed from the creaseproofed fabric by washing the resultant fabric to remove water-soluble solids therefrom.